US Ends HIV Funding Over Afrikaner Persecution Allegations
The US government has announced it will cease funding programmes in South Africa aimed at combating the spread of HIV and AIDS, attributing this decision to the South African government's alleged failure to protect the white-minority Afrikaner community.
South Africa's health ministry responded by stating that, although it had not been officially informed of the decision, it has "long been working on a self-reliance plan".
More than eight million South Africans are currently living with HIV, the highest number of any country worldwide.
Until 2025, the US had been supporting South Africa's HIV response with approximately $400 million (£300 million) annually through the President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Deteriorating US-South Africa Relations Under Trump Administration
Since President Donald Trump's inauguration, relations between the two nations have increasingly deteriorated. Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order alleging that "countless" South African policies dismantled equal opportunities and incited violence "against racially disfavored landowners."
The South African government disputes these claims, asserting that its Black Economic Empowerment policy is necessary to address economic disparities stemming from the apartheid era.
The executive order also referenced South Africa's legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its diplomatic ties with Iran.
The White House stated that due to these "unjust and immoral practices," further aid to South Africa would be withheld.
Claims of White Genocide and Refugee Programmes
President Trump has also made unfounded claims of a "white genocide" occurring in South Africa. This rhetoric has led to the establishment of a refugee programme specifically for Afrikaners—descendants of Western Europeans who settled in southern Africa in the 17th century. Currently, Afrikaners constitute nearly the only group permitted refugee status in the US.
PEPFAR Funding and Phased Drawdown
PEPFAR funding, which accounted for about one-fifth of South Africa's total HIV programme expenditure, received a temporary extension last October through a so-called "bridge plan."
However, a US State Department official has confirmed that a "phased drawdown" of PEPFAR funding will now commence. This action is attributed to "South Africa's failure to make demonstrable progress on policy requests by the administration," according to the official.
The US government aims to "foster self-reliance" and reduce South Africa's dependency on American aid, emphasizing that "South Africa is a middle-income country and is more than capable of supporting its own health programs."
South Africa's Response on HIV Programme Funding
South Africa's health ministry has clarified that while PEPFAR contributed to the country's HIV programme, the provision of life-saving antiretroviral drugs was funded separately, with the majority of funding coming from the South African government.
Attempts to Repair Diplomatic Relations
Efforts to improve US-South Africa relations have been unsuccessful. These include a high-profile White House meeting over a year ago between President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during which Trump confronted Ramaphosa with his allegations of white persecution.
Additionally, the US boycotted the G20 summit hosted by South Africa in November, a gathering of the world's major economies.
Additional reporting by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.
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